Disclaimer: Didn't I just say this on the last chapter? Digimon has a rightful owner and it's not me.
Author's Note: I love getting reviews from my readers so keep them coming. What's an author with out their reviewers right? Anyway, here is chapter four since all of you have been such good people to me. I hope everyone's enjoying this as I have enjoyed writing it. Let's cut the chitchat and read away!
By: Lady Lara Croft
[4] The Beginning of the End
. . . .
[October 27, 2013]
Western-Otaka Hotel
Sunday 7:15 AM
The maddening alarm clock disturbed Kouji's sleeping state and thus awoke in an ill-tempered manner. Moving over to the right side of the bed, he peered at the clock opening one eye as he muttered, "Stupid clock" hoping to retrieve some more shuteye.
Seven fifteen, he imprinted on his mind as he gradually rolled out of bed and sat up, his feet touched the cold floor, and it felt as if he had accidentally stepped on ice in the Arctic. Nevertheless, he removed the feeling of the coldness of the floor while he examined the dingy room he stayed in.
The area possessed no attractive color nor did it have any good-quality furniture in the little room Kouji rented the night before.
The wallpaper, decorated with brown and white stripes, had been peeled since the last time it was refurnished which was probably along time ago since the manager never really cared for the place. The blinds looked rather a bit dusty and were in a pretty bad shape. The AC and heater panel looked banged up as well, no wonder Kouji was unable to turn on the heat at a time like this where the weather had been so cold since last night.
Despite the fact he picked a distasteful hotel to crash for one night, he was thankful enough to have obtained a roof over his head as memories from the bitter night sluggishly made its way back to him. He fought hard to block the resentful event that occurred last night.
He instead thought about what he should do today in case the police went looking for him, or how he would outrun them again as he luckily accomplished his escape the preceding night.
"The chase barely begun and already they want me dead this moment. Why did it have to be me?" He paused. "I'm already jobless, I'm friendless, and now I'm accused of something I did not commit. If there's one thing I'd like to do, I'd like to finish up this foolish game," he muttered as he walked over to the bathroom sink and turned on the water to wash his face.
The water felt cold as ice that he eventually turned on the knob of the hot water but the temperature failed to alter to his satisfaction. He had enough of the sink and risked not trouble to tire himself to get it warm.
He finished his business in the bathroom and picked up the clothes he had worn last night that lay steadily at the edge of the bed. He looked at the stained white shirt on his hand, thought twice before wearing it again, pulled on his trousers over his legs, and topped everything off with his leather jacket. It'll have to do for now. Maybe I can stop by an outlet and pick up a shirt, he pondered.
Assured he had done all he could to prepare himself in the morning and checked twice that he left nothing behind, he turned off the light and closed the door behind him. He quickly made his way to the manager's office down at the front entrance, returned the access card while leaving a bit of tip, left the building and hurriedly caught the bus not too far from Western-Otaka Hotel.
The time cycled to eight o'clock the next opportunity he had as Kouji peeked on his watch. It won't be long now until the bus came to a nearby town with numerous outlets on each sidewalk. He played around with the silver key he found inside his back pocket, frowning.
"…fits something…East Sendai. …look for a man… Takeda. It's important." Bits and pieces of the Chief's final words lingered on his exhausted mind as he tried to figure out if this man, Takeda, had any fine information linked to the Chief's death and the mysterious caller.
Kouji realized the bus abruptly stopped and this was his cue to get off.
He secured the silver key inside his pocket once again as he stepped out of the bus. He felt anxious for a moment to see if anyone who walked past him would recognize his face from the incident last night. No one seemed to have any knowledge of it just yet, he thought, and casually ventured into one of the outlet stores.
He was very quick about his shopping for a new shirt and now it was time for him to hunt down Takeda, hopefully with a mouthful of answers, if not, he'd work him out real hard in order to attain vital information.
Kouji remembered the man's advice about which kind of transportation should best suit him if he wanted to reach East Sendai fast. The train station seemed a bit far off so that left him to either ride a cab or hop on to another bus. I guess it won't matter anyway since all three modes would lead to East Sendai, s'long as I get there I'm fine.
He hailed a cab effortlessly and was only an hour or so less away from East Sendai.
He directed the driver to drop him off at Ohta's Club and while at service to him, he would like to hear the news on radio if possible.
Nothing interested him as he listened attentively attempting to catch something that involved him. Fortunately, only a brief report about the Chief's death came on, nothing much about the killer – which directed to Kouji for the mean time – and thankful enough that the descriptions weren't out yet.
I wonder what happened to that cop that was after me. Surely he would've spilled everything last night back to headquarters about me. I wonder what's become of him, he thought to himself.
"Rough night you had?" the cab driver interrupted his thoughts as he looked up on his rearview mirror, trying to make eye contact with his weary passenger.
Kouji caught his eyes, nodded in return accompanied by a relaxed answer. "Yeah. I did a lot of running last night, it was damn right tiring."
"That sounds fun. You…run a lot?" he replied with a bit of inquisitive tone in his voice.
Kouji looked at his temporary companion on the rear view mirror before he answered. He had bushy eyebrows, brown eyes with glasses over them, his face engulfed by his stubby beard, and he wore a hat with black hair peeking through. "I run to keep myself in good health and shape, nothing more."
The man chuckled. "I used to do a lot of running back in the days. My dream was to become an Olympic athlete, but look what fate brought me. Here I am driving stubborn passengers all over town. I would've slapped fate right back on its face but I figured, it aint broke don't fix it. The cab business kept my family alive and I'm thankful for that."
"I see. Wish I could say the same thing."
"What's wrong with you?"
"You wouldn't be interested in it. As of right now, I'm hunting down fate to give me back my normal life," spoke Kouji as he stared out the window with a serious look on his face. He fell silent for one moment before he continued his conversation. "I used to think everything was how it was supposed to be, but I was dead wrong. My life sort of act like a maze, you don't know whether you're heading to a dead end or you'll find the right way through and come out victorious. I find a lot of bumps along the way, I don't like it."
"I agree with you on that one. I don't like bumps on the way. It ruins the tire and that means sooner or later I'll have to have a tire change."
Kouji chuckled a little. "That's not what I meant but whatever."
"By the way, I'm Hideki, you do happen to have a name correct?" he introduced himself peeking behind him.
He blinked a few times. "Of course I do. But if I told you, you mustn't tell anyone."
"Oh, I see. Are you some kind of top secret agent or something?"
"Nah. Nothing like that. That would just make my life as complicated as it already is."
"All right then, how about I just call you Lou." His words were a statement, not a question of some sort.
Kouji thought for some second. You've got to be kidding me. He's giving me a name? Is this what he does to his passengers? He sighed. But then again, if it will help keep my identity safe then I guess it's all right.
"All right it's settled then. My name's Lou." Kouji agreed to Hideki's will albeit not the best choice he ever performed.
"That was quite fast…anyway, Lou happened to be my brother's name. But it's all right that you take it since he's in jail. I name all my nameless passengers Lou, it's better than nothing right?" Hideki questioned him smiling a little. He looked like such a nice person to converse with and looked like a respectable man himself.
"I suppose that's okay," Kouji answered. He's either stupid or just amusing me. Oh and look, his brother happened to be in jail, isn't that wonderful? How ironic is this!
"Hey, don't be bummed out. I'll return Lou's name back to him when he's released. I'm sure he wouldn't have minded that some of my passengers 'borrowed' his name."
"Thanks, I feel a lot better," he replied sarcastically lying. Hideki smiled and none of them talked for the rest of the trip – except when Hideki couldn't take the infuriating silence and broke it by his own will. Kouji leaned his head back and rested his eyes while Hideki talked the whole way. He filled the cab with his own voice about his family, work, half of his childhood life, his favorite past times, and about the death of his precious grandmother. He said he blamed himself because it was his fault he left the house, forgot to turn off the gas range and his grandmother, who was nearly blind, lit a cigarette while in the kitchen and suddenly an explosive ending of her life.
Some time later, he woke up to Hideki's voice saying they arrived five minutes ago on their destination. He paid the fare with a little tip, bid him farewell and stepped out of the cab. Hideki waved him good-bye before speeding off.
. . . .
10:03 AM
He stood on the sidewalk as his gaze followed the height of the building in front of him, yawning. He couldn't remember if he slept such a long time while in the cab as the cab driver mumbled endlessly about whatever pleased him.
Directly in his sight stood a red awning and above it the label Ohta's Club inscribed in red neon lights occupied the whole top of the awning, but the lights slept silently since it was only ten in the morning.
However, this did not keep Kouji from entering the place. He opened the door, casually walked in and sure enough, the dim-lighted place hadn't had any visitors, only a bartender setting up the club and his associate sweeping the floor. The place looked bleak and uneventful. Only the hiss of the generator roared in the atmosphere and the clinking of wine bottles.
He amused himself for some time looking around before he heard someone addressed him.
"Can I get you anything?" the bartender questioned him as he gazed up to the new comer then returned his gaze to his work.
Kouji replied, "As a matter of fact I'm looking for someone," a tone of seriousness collided with the words spoken.
The bartender halted, wiped his hands and leaned on the bar. He looked quite young, around the age of twenty or so. He had on a white tee shirt, and black trousers. His hair matched his trousers and his brown eyes glared at the ex-cop, but he didn't know that.
"Names don't mean anything in this club, unless you are in authorization to seize this place."
"I'm not a cop but I bet you I can make you talk." Well, I was a cop anyways. Kouji spoke again. "I won't make this as complicated as it should be, so I suggest you cooperate willingly."
"And if I don't?" the bartender questioned with a smirk on his face.
"What's your name?" snapped Kouji. "I usually don't force people to get something out of them. Should that come as a requirement, you'd realize I was serious in the first place."
"Micki," replied the bartender. "I don't like your attitude."
Kouji's piercing dark blue eyes narrowed and with a swift movement he grabbed the bartender's collar and held him close to his face.
He breathed down on Micki's neck, he didn't like this himself but he had no choice but to do it. "Listen to me Micki. If you don't, you may or may not wake up in a hospital bed the next morning if you displease me right this moment. I killed someone and I can kill you if I want to."
A threat was what he gave him as he tightened his grip and nothing more. Kouji felt the urge to finish this cock-and-bullshit right then and there before it went too far. Here's a man who's trying to get his life together after he fell unconscious the night before and when he woke up his life had turned upside down. Crossing him didn't look like a good idea and surely Kouji wasn't going to let this pass.
The other person sweeping the floor stopped and felt paranoid for one bit. He held onto the broom he possessed, gripped it tightly and attended his attention over to the twosome.
"Fine. I'll talk, just don't kill me. I'm proposing to my girlfriend tonight!" he said frantically, his hands clawing on Kouji's.
"Good, then. Let's be friends Micki," he said and released the bartender from his grip and his threat. He relaxed. "I need to talk to a man whose name is Takeda. I need something from him. Does his name mean anything here?" his eyebrow arched, a look on his face suggested he's not someone to be tampered with.
"Yes, of course. He runs this place. Mr. Takeda doesn't come until the afternoon or later on tonight. He comes when it pleases him to do so. I don't know where he lives or how you can contact him. You'll have to come back later."
"That's fine with me," he answered him awfully quite fast. Then he heard the question, "You won't kill me now, right?"
"I was just bluffing. But I'm not bluffing when I said I was looking for Takeda. When he arrives, tell him Kouji, with a very important business, would like to speak with him. Someone who needs to sort some nasty things out, do you understand?"
"I clearly understand."
"Thank you for your willingness. Enjoy the rest of your day gentlemen," he said as he left the bartender and gave the other man a single nod.
He was tired of wasting time but he had no option but to kill some time off while the afternoon arrived, better yet until the night arrived. And he was also tired of people who wasted his time.
Instead of lingering downtown, he bought a movie ticket and decided to sleep there and get something to eat when he wakes up. He didn't know why, but sleeping often came to him and that seemed to be the best thing to do for now. Or maybe it was because he tried to forget the bloody event last night and figured sleeping would help.
He slept for a couple of hours as the movie ran through twice. How he stayed there unseen by the ushers who cleaned the place became a mystery that need not be solved. He checked out his watch - 3:00 PM. Almost there until he could find some answers, hopefully.
He walked out of the movie theater; looked around a place he could fill up his hungry stomach and in defeat started walking to wherever his feet would take him. It was only a few steps when he heard loud yelling from behind.
"Noodles! Noodles! Get your warm and delicious noodles!"
A noodle cart arrived to his rescue just in time to satisfy Kouji's hunger. He rapidly spun and waved a hand over to the noodle cart carrier.
"Hey there! I see you heard my loud advertising, great isn't? By the way, the name's Daisuke and at your service!" he said, presenting himself.
"Ok, Daisuke is it? What do you have on your menu?"
A very big smile formed on Daisuke's face. "Why, today I serve the House Special! It's one of the best in town. I want you to try it!" He exclaimed preparing himself with his utensils and other whatnots needed for cooking.
"House Special?"
"Heh, heh, my bad! I meant to say Cart Special but who cares!"
"Ok, ok, calm down. I was just asking," Kouji said, a bit surprised with the cook.
"So what would it be? A small, medium or large bowl?" Daisuke questioned already setting up the noodles and other ingredients onto the fire.
"Uh, well, I skipped breakfast and lunch so-"
"That means you're really very hungry and you have a lot of room in your tummy to shove a large order of noodles! No problem! I've got the best noodles you've ever tasted in this town! I traveled in West Sendai, North, South, Tokyo, Odaiba, you name it and I've been there. Of course I have a van to load all this junk into."
He must take a lot of pride in his business. I've never seen anyone so enthusiastic about a noodle cart business before, it echoed in Kouji's head.
Kouji wafted the smell of Daisuke's cooking and as it entered his nostrils, it only made him hungrier than ever. Within minutes of waiting, it was finally done. Boy was he hungry like a wolf!
"Ta da!" Daisuke presented his fully cooked noodle Cart Special. "I hope you enjoy my noodles! It was cooked with all ingredients and a secret ingredient, but of course I can't tell you that. That's why it's called secret ingredient! Ha, ha, ha!" he laughed and winked, proud of his another successful cooking of noodle.
"All right, I trust you on that one," the black haired boy said.
Kouji had already taken a bite from the bowl and surprisingly enough, not only did the bowl give the impression of being so appetizing; it was so good he almost choked! Daisuke advised him to slow down and offered him a drink. Kouji washed down the noodles with water, at the same time quenched his thirst. He finished his food and paid Daisuke.
"Thanks a lot. The noodles sure made me full."
"Hey, no problem! I was meant to feed people with noodles! I gotta run now, I have other people to rescue."
With that said the owner of the noodle cart sped away calling out 'Noodles!' to the whole world. At first Kouji thought Daisuke was a bit weird but he looked all right, the noodles were great anyway, it rewarded him greatly. He commented how delicious it tasted and hoped someday he'll buy another.
. . . .
Nightfall…
10:03 PM
He returned to the club as instructed by the bartender. The neon lights have been turned on as it blazed immensely atop the awning. He witnessed a line of people waiting to get in; it must have been such a popular club, after all, if everyone waited outside, especially on such a cold weather.
Two burly men guarded the entrance.
Not minding the line, he approached the door only to be stopped by the two men who wore black suits. A hand held out in front of him blocking his entrance.
"You can't go in. Back in the line," hissed the man on the left, his voice powerful, strong, and commanding.
Kouji put down the man's hand, disregarded the warning given to him and answered, "I have business to settle with Takeda, if you don't mind. Let me through."
Through the other side of the glassed entrance, Micki, the bartender, made his way outside. He barred tensions between Kouji and the two men before chaos broke between them with a mental note that if that occur, Takeda would surely kick him out for irresponsibility.
"It's all right, he's authorized to go inside. Mr. Takeda is expecting him and he's his special guest for tonight."
Kouji glanced at the two fellows as he passed them, following the bartender.
The inside of the club boomed with loud music that suggested the place became a refuge to those who had nothing else to do or who just wanted to have a great time. The lights illuminated from all over the place, making it colorful and dim at the same time.
He observed some pole dancers here and there sliding their body against the pole. Men drooled over the almost-naked women on the stage.
Around the place, men and women drank together, laughed together, and made stupid remarks against each other. The place was packed that he had a hard time squeezing through the heated and sweated bodies all around him. He wondered if Ohta's Club was like this every single night. Takeda's probably such a rich fool if he was to answer his thought.
The bartender led Kouji to a room upstairs, secluded to the public in a secret door and watched the Micki rapped on the door several times as if he had to knock correctly in a secret code.
"C'mon in." The voice said from the other side of the room.
The bartender left and Kouji took the effort to open the door. He came inside, closed the door behind him and witnessed a man sitting on a chair behind a desk. He looked like one of those Mafia boss, only skinnier and smaller.
"You want something from me?" the man asked. "I want to make this as quickly as I can. I'm busy."
"I assume you're Takeda."
"Mr. Takeda to you," he corrected. "I run and own this place. You should enjoy yourself downstairs, not up here."
"Right then, Mr. Takeda. Let's get this over with."
"Take a seat if you want. Do you smoke?" he said offering Kouji a buttless cigar. He shook his head as he took the silver key from his pocket. Takeda drew back the cigar he offered, put it aside in a packet and smoked his own. He let out a few puffs waiting for Kouji to speak. His office didn't consist much. His desk had three telephones, some paper, a Rolodex, some fancy pens, and a tiny calendar.
Around his office, three filing cabinets were set side by side on one part of the wall. Opposite that were a few camera screens that monitored the activities downstairs along with several control panel. Nothing more added to the scenery but some other junk.
"I believe you have something for me," spoke Kouji directly staring at Takeda's eyes not even blinking.
He puffed a few smokes. "What is it?"
"2794011. Sound familiar?" he questioned raising a brow. He waited for any reaction from Takeda but he didn't budge. Maybe he had memorized the numbers wrong, or maybe it didn't mean anything to the man. But what he recited was correct. He knew the number by heart.
Takeda smashed the tip of his cigar on the ashtray and stood up.
He stared at Kouji long and hard. "You're either authentic or fake. Which is it?"
"That's up to you. It's your call."
Takeda sighed; no one would dare play around with that little code. It held something that could only be revealed to someone worthy of attaining the hidden information from the correct source and whatever other secrets held behind those numbers. But just to make sure that it was an authentic code, he interrogated Kouji of its origin.
"Richard Ishinabe, the Chief Superintendent if you hadn't any knowledge."
"Follow me," he answered. That was all he needed to hear and nothing more.
Kouji waited for Takeda to leave first.
They left the room discreetly, turned left into a poor-lighted hallway and Kouji followed the man, his wits alert of anything that might happen at any time for any reason or no reason at all.
The walls consisted of peeling green paint. Pipes ran parallel to the ceiling and clattered ever so often. The ceiling too wasn't in a good shape. The circular bulbs flickered as the shadows of the two men trailed behind them. How ironic to walk in a poor-managed area upstairs when the room out of this horrid place consisted of pleasure, leisure, laughter, and money.
Upon walking for what seemed to be an eternity, Takeda led Kouji to a steel staircase that led to a bottom area.
The soles of their shoes collided with the metal stairs emitting echoes at the bottom of the stairs. After several flights of stairs, Kouji felt relieved to have reached the bottom. He never knew that a club owned by Takeda had hidden places, even if they were unsightly.
He made out a door, right at the bottom of the stairs. Takeda unlocked it, twisted the knob, turned on the lights and ventured inside. He motioned for Kouji to walk in and saw several lockers plastered to the wall. Now, which locker contained the hidden information Kouji longed to grasp his hands on? And which locker would greatly accept the silver key he held?
"Now it's your call," Takeda spoke, taking out another cigar and circumcising it before lighting the brown tip.
Kouji sighed. "Can't you tell me which one belonged to the Chief?"
"You want to find it, you look for it." Another motion. Another puff. Another death to his lung.
Kouji stopped himself from being angry and enacted what he had to. He tried on the silver key on each one of the lockers hoping it would fit one so he could get out of the tiring place. Locker after locker he was defeated with a sigh and a wave of frustration. The key seemed to despise most of the keyholes. What if the Chief had given him the wrong key? He was old anyway so the possibility of if was likely to occur.
Then, with his utmost curiosity he heard a click.
A click.
It fit!
The key, which was given to him the night of the murder, the very key that escorted him trouble right when it landed on his hands, the very key that could solve the murder crime fit on the last locker. In his mind he jumped for joy as one part of the deal was done.
He opened the locker but it was Takeda who came forward and took out the content. It was a brown box with a bronze clasp on the edge.
"This is Richard's all right," Takeda said, examining the object on his hand.
Kouji gestured for the box. "May I?" Without hesitation from Takeda, he received it, unclasped the latch and picked out an old-looking book. For all the trouble he went through, he provided a book? This must have been such a practical joke! Who in their right mind would give someone a book?
"I know what you are thinking," Takeda replied. Another puff of smoke escaped the crevice of his lips. "You think your Chief played around with you, am I not mistaken?"
Kouji didn't answer. What does Takeda know about anything? If he knew something all along, how much does he know that Kouji wasn't aware of?
"That, is not a book. That," he said, pointing it to the thing, "is Richard's diary." He paused for a minute – "Dated back all the way from the late 1970's. It was his most treasured secret and he entrusted me with it if anything should happen to him."
Kouji picked up and paged through the leaves of the 'book'. Mistaken – yes indeed – for he held a diary, not a book. Dates and entries were written on the pages, although somewhat faded, he took such an effort in order to make out certain dates that he mentally told himself he would go back to it later and read it with all his attention.
"So why is this so important?"
"Not only did it contain half of Richard's life, it contained a secret of some sort. I don't exactly know what it is, but what I know is, it's for you."
"When was the last time you spoke to him?" questioned Kouiji, looking up from the diary he held. He had a curious look in his face, somewhat like a little kid's face that just woke up and found out his mommy left early for work.
Takeda cleared his throat. "I would say about two weeks ago a-and yesterday, early in the afternoon. He said a man had been stalking him the week before. I laughed at that comment. I mean how could it be that a Chief like him would all so suddenly be scared of a mere stalker? I thought it quite peculiar."
"Did he tell you about the man's appearances?"
He shook his head methodically, his lips curling on the side. "No, he mentioned no such thing. The day after that, he immediately came to me, informed me to keep his diary here because he held so much confidence in this place that the thought of anyone breaking in and discovering his hidden diary was not likely to occur. I've been a long time friend of his and I never saw him act so paranoid. I don't know what to think of him that day. He was stuttering like crazy. I told him to take some time off from work, take some medicine, and relax a bit."
The younger man pondered about Takeda's description of the Chief's behavior. It sounded so weird to him. "If I know the Chief, he doesn't frighten easily. This puzzles me a lot."
"I know," responded Takeda. "I shrugged it off though. I concluded he was only stressed out and he couldn't take it anymore. I had preparations to take him whaling, but he died before I could invite him. Such an unlikely thing to happen to him, I think."
He looked at the diary once more before speaking. He opened it to the first page – it was blank. Why?
"Tell me more. I must learn everything I could."
"I'm glad to do so."
Kouji nodded and listened intently to Takeda as he lectured the younger man.
"So, he specifically told me to hand this to someone who had the code and restricted anyone else who posed as a wanderer. He gave me strict orders. Let it fall to the wrong hands and heaven knows what could happen. I kept his word. The code served as a reassurance that whoever held the code, like you did, came authentically from Richard. Other than that, ignorance would've answered the wrong person. Everything seemed not to be in its rightful place. He left in rather a hurry after giving me instructions and he talked too low, almost in a whisper when right when he talked inches from my face. I didn't know what went on, really I didn't. And you know the rest about that key…
Yesterday, he called me and I think maybe in between three to four in the afternoon. He informed me that he contacted you and needed your help…something about a mysterious caller. I thought the old man's really lost it! Mind my saying of old, I know I'm considered as one. He said, 'You should expect someone with the name of Kouji Minamoto to come by your club. He will be picking up what I left there to finish a task' and I just agreed to whatever he said. He kept stumbling over his words! I sounded something must have terribly gone wrong. He continued telling me, 'Tell the boy to arrive at Detective Warren's place. I have given him more information. I'm sorry if I've got him running all over the place. I feel it's safer he keep moving rather than stay in one place.' I haven't met this Detective Warren so I'm afraid that's all what I can contribute," he finished with a big breath afterwards, followed by a massive inhalation of his cigar.
"That's more than what I asked for. I wonder if the Chief meant Detective Warren from his headquarters," Kouji pondered.
Takeda shrugged. What did he know about Sendai police? Absolutely nothing. He's an expert in clubs, not the law. "I hope he's the right one. Good luck with your search."
Kouji gave him a single nod and thanked him. He dismissed himself from Takeda's sight, backtracked his way to the lively part of the club, throwing the box that kept the diary in the garbage on his way there. He squeezed his way through as women pulled him on each side, wanting to dance with him, flirt with him, and seduce him. That was not his lifestyle and ignored the females who tried to get their hands on him. He felt relieved when he ended up outside and breathed in fresh air. The line no longer stood there but the two burly men still guarded the entrance.
He walked down the street alone as he had done everyday. He peeked at his watch, his other hand holding onto the diary, and thought it wouldn't hurt to ring up Detective Warren, even though it was somewhat late.
But, does the time 11:00 PM on a Sunday considered late given the fact Kouji needed answers to solve a case?
Besides, any time of the day, or maybe even at night, the Detective looked forward to his arrival. After all, he obtained something of value from the Chief. He kept walking for another fifteen minutes until he approached a payphone.
He dialed the Detective's number, vaguely from his memory and prayed that it was the right digits, until someone surprisingly answered the phone.
The voice sang a simple greeting of hello on the other line.
"Detective Warren," Kouji began, "This is Kouji. I believe you're expecting me?"
"Of course. What took you so long to call? Ah, never mind that. Can you come soon?" he heard the Detective spoke anxiously. Kouji nodded, realized it was impossible for the other man to see that he agreed and replied "Yes" on the telephone.
"Good. That is good. I shall have tea here when you ring the doorbell. We have a lot to discuss. Farewell."
It clicked and he heard the Detective no more.
. . . .
Complex Neighborhood
11:30 PM
Two men were sitting down in the dining room table drinking tea, half an hour before the clock strike midnight. The place looked somewhat similar to the Chief's dwelling, except this one had livelier appearance. Instead of a tall lamp light that illuminated the area, there, above on the ceiling hung a fluorescent light.
He sipped it slowly but casually, relieving his throat from the cold atmosphere. The tea felt warm inside his chest, and he too felt warm at the temporary living space he acquired for the night. He set the tea cup down right back on the saucer, the cup empty. He was offered another cup of tea but refused it politely. He felt fine after he had taken three cups already, he didn't need more than that. He was grateful of the simple roof above his head, and no more service should be given to him, except answers.
"Such a pity it had to be you Kouji. I found great confidence in you – you were such a committed cop."
"Such a pity," he echoed, almost in a whisper.
Detective J.D. Warren, the age of forty, is stationed at Sendai Headquarters. He is a man of tanned skin, light brown hair who probably weighs around two hundred pounds, green eyes, a mustache and a pair of frameless glasses is the person who is currently talking to Kouji.
He knew Kouji quite well because of his job, though he didn't quite understood what happened the night before. He firmly believed Kouji had no motive to eliminate the Chief because he seemed not the kind of person to initiate such actions. No, Kouji was a hard working cop who followed all orders in every assignment. He didn't "get back" to the people who were in bad terms with him. He kept calm and went on about his usual work.
Although, at the moment, he considered Kouji to be a suspect because the Chief informed him that the younger man would be visiting him in his condominium for terms of business and with that piece of information, Kouji is a suspect. He was at the scene of the crime.
Nevertheless, Detective J.D. Warren means business with Kouji as well. He has some information that may attract Kouji's attention.
"I know you are looking for some answers. I can't be wrong on that one," Warren presumed.
"You're right. I do want some answers. Can you give them to me?"
Warren sighed. "Not only do I have answers, I also have a task for you. That is, if you are interested."
"Should I take it?"
"I think you should. It'll help you a lot," replied Warren, small smile curling on the side of his lips.
Kouji smirked. Was this right? "What do you mean by that?" His questioned sounded light and almost innocent, but not too much. He sounded interested, despite the fact he had to ask Detective Warren.
The older man poured more tea in his cup. He sipped it for a while, staring into a white dead wall past Kouji. He knew Kouji would be not only for a surprise yet also a chance for him to retrieve his life.
"I ask you this: Do you want to clear your name?"
"What's this got to do with the Chief?"
"I asked a question and I expected an answer, not another interrogation."
He rolled his eyes. Another game was it?
"All right, let's do it your way, for now." He paused – "I want to clear my name as much as I want to get my life back together. Why? Are you going to complete that for me?"
Warren placed his cup down, shook his head and said, "Of course not. That would be useless. If I had wanted to do so in the first place I wouldn't need you here, and I wouldn't have spoken that I have a task for you."
"Cut the chitchat already. What have you got?" snapped Kouji, aiming for a more direct answer.
"I assume you posses the Chief's diary, correct?" questioned Warren.
Kouji nodded methodically. He pulled out the diary from his back pocket, placed it in sight of Warren and gestured for him to examine it. Warren did for a couple of minutes, set the diary back in front of Kouji and spoke, "This is good. All is according to plan just as he instructed."
Kouji couldn't help but questioned him. "The Chief is he?"
"Yes. And I do suppose you want a piece of my mind as well?"
"It wouldn't hurt now, would it? After all, I didn't come here at almost midnight for nothing."
Then there was silence, next, movement, and another silence.
Warren left the younger man for one minute and ventured inside a private room, off to the side of his bedroom. It was there where he kept important files from the headquarters and other confidential documents. There were three filing cabinets, three different colors – gray, black, and a faded brown.
He inserted a tiny key inside the keyhole of the black filing cabinet and pulled the cold handle. He searched through files and documents until his hand grasped a yellow packet envelope and grabbed a handful of paper above the filing cabinet.
He ventured back into the dining room where his companion awaited for his arrival. He tossed the packet atop the diary but kept the papers secured on his hand.
"All the information you'll need is in that packet. It's yours. Don't let anyone take it from you. The Chief mailed it to me inside another packet with instructions according to his will."
"Keep going."
"Kouji, I believe that you are innocent, but my saying does not provide all the evidence to clear your name. You must work for it if you want to walk around free again."
Kouji kept silent. Should he take this task offered by Warren?
"I'm not so sure about this task you want to appoint to me, but if I am to clear my name, I'll do anything."
Warren nodded, Kouji's agreement made him content.
"I personally want you to track down the Chief's real killer - "
Kouji interrupted him before he could further speak. "How do you expect me to do that when the cops are after me? I'm lucky enough I didn't see any of them today and made it here without a scratch. I have no access to my apartment, mind you."
Warren shook his head. Why must he interrupt him when he had something important to discuss with him?
"If you let me explain I think you'll find it within your convenience that you will have access to your apartment. I'm on your side Kouji."
"You've got three minutes to entertain me."
"Three minutes is all I need."
Warren handed the papers to Kouji to examine the content. Kouji looked at each one and paid attention to it closely.
The detective began speaking before his time expired.
"First, I'll inform you that I will expunge your record at Sendai Headquarters and any other police records that are linked to ours and have any access. I won't do it permanently, but rather store all vital information in my personal backup system in my office. I know what I'm doing is quite dangerous and unlawful, but my orders came directly from the Chief and an order is an order."
"And these papers you handed me…" he said waving it in front of Warren's face. "Do I need them?" His response was a nod.
"The murder was unfortunate indeed; however, that can be fixed. He knew that his time of death neared him. He's been talking to me about the stalker he had, when he called Takeda, when he informed me about you, and yesterday, when he confessed to me that someone was after him. I wanted to rescue him but he specifically told me to stay out of harm's way. But you should not."
Appalled by what he heard, he gave Warren a horrid look. "Why should I be in the way?"
"He wanted to make up for taking you out of the force."
"Ugh. Such shame he brought to himself." Kouji muttered under his breath, "Tis better that I never went there when he died. I brought this whole misfortune to myself."
"I also have another proposal for you."
"What is it this time?"
"Have you heard of the Red Viper?" Warren's tone became serious and a bit cold..
Kouji shook his head.
By this time, Detective Warren had stood up, pacing the room back and forth giving Kouji a headache. He halted with his back turned on his companion, his hands clasped behind him.
"The Red Viper, is the worst crime lord that ever existed, however, he is stunningly intelligent. We've been tracking him down for the past several years but he managed to elude us every time. He stole numerous amounts of money, antiques, and jewelries; smuggled imported cars and drugs into this country and armaments and he is wanted in fifteen different countries. Every time we are set to catch him, he's already retreated to his new hiding place," said Warren disappointedly.
"That means your squad needs more training," insulted Kouji.
"Thanks for your concern," Warren shot back. He turned around and walked back to where he sat earlier.
"Dare I say this but I did not pick you for this job. Richard wanted you to go undercover within the Viper's lair."
He raised a brow. "Oh?"
"Yes," replied Warren firmly. "Only a few selected men knew of this preparation and those men are to remain anonymous."
"Tell me what I have to do."
"We'll provide you a new identity, as well as wiring you some cash money for your pocket, a new house, vehicle – whatever type you prefer, and anything else you might need."
Kouji replied as he tapped the papers in front of him, "A real dossier would work better than these scraps."
"That's only a copy of some of our documented files. In addition to that, I'll be honest with you that you will have to remain within the Red Viper's reach for at least two years in order to closely approach him. We've sent men who went undercover but only lasted months. Why? Because they did not have the qualified skills to enter the Viper's league. Join the Viper, and hopefully you'll get within him as close as you possibly can."
"So you want me to live under the Viper's skin for two years?" questioned Kouji. "Not bad, not bad at all."
"Within those two years, we'll supply you additional information, and likewise you are to report whatever facts you come across, understood?"
"Easier said than done." Kouji returned his gaze to the papers he held.
The first paper contained a shot of three people who seemed to be in a cocktail party. The first person on the right indicated he was of importance since he wore such a nice fitting tuxedo; Kouji guessed he was around the age of thirty. The second person in the middle looked younger, probably around the age of twenty-eight, and he, too, wore a tuxedo. The last person, a woman, was the youngest, she was probably at the age of twenty-five, she wore a very elegant black dress that almost revealed her chest. On the bottom of the paper appeared such names: Tanaka Tokugawa, Shinjiro Tokugawa, and Azumi Tokugawa.
They're all related. So what? He thought.
After the names, the only article written was: The Tokugawa siblings celebrate after their successful trip in France while purchasing a very expensive flat that belonged to King Louis XIV in Versailles.
That's very interesting.
"Who are these people?"
"You'll find out once you start your mission. I bid you good luck. And do not lose those documents in the packet. It'll save your life, the least you expect it," Warren replied.
Dangerous or not, nothing can stop Kouji now. He's got a new goal to fulfill. Track down the killer and join the Red Viper's league.
Kouji must not fail in this assignment, who knows what cruel deeds the Red Viper might concoct next. But, what exactly does the Viper have in mind?
"Warren," addressed Kouji. "What exactly does the Viper plan? Have you any knowledge?"
"No. We don't know what he's up to, but I'm guessing it's something bad. That man's capable of anything he had knowledge of, I tell ya. He's an expert in almost anything."
"Almost anything, huh," repeated Kouji. He looked at Warren and gave him a sly smile. "You have to do better than that."
Till next time…
. . . .
AN: Keep a good look out for chapter five. All characters are a go starting on the next chapter! I know you've been wondering if I'll be putting Takuya, Zoe, JP, and Tommy in this fic, and Kouichi. Of course!